Long Time Idaho Reporter New Spokesman for Labrador

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Longtime Idaho political reporter Dan Popkey will be the new press secretary for U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador.

Popkey resigned from the Idaho Statesman Tuesday, after reporting at the newspaper for nearly 30 years. During that time, he covered 26 sessions of the Idaho Legislature. Popkey will remain based in Idaho, working out of Labrador's office in Meridian.

Popkey has been twice named Idaho's reporter of the year by the Idaho Press Club and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his 2007 coverage of former Idaho U.S. Sen. Larry Craig.

He has a bachelor's in political science from Santa Clara University and a master's in journalism from Columbia University. Labrador says Popkey's experience and knowledge of Idaho's political history will be an asset to his staff.